EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF THE BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED
The Holy Spirit is at work and taking control of everything! This is a moment you'll definitely want to be a part of! The Holy Spirit s working within us, gently inviting us to respond to our vocation with courage and determination: to become true witnesses of the Risen Jesus! We are delighted to share the wonderful news of a significant increase in the number of baptized and confirmed persons in our Archdiocese of Montreal. We are thrilled to be in the heart of Montreal, at the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, a place of immeasurable historical and spiritual richness. It's at the heart of the action, the vitality of exchanges, and the richness of experiences that the latter is found. It’s bursting, brimming with vibrant energy, at the crossroads of commerce and the effervescence of ideas, itinerancy, and so many other thrilling challenges. The Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes is served with unwavering dedication by Father Guy Bérubé, a dedicated priest of the Archdiocese of Montreal.
Oh, Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, your beauty and serenity are simply
unmatched. You are a truly priceless meeting place, a magical point of
convergence where hearts unite in faith and love. You carry within you the very
essence of hospitality! You welcome pilgrims and visitors from all over and offer
them a spiritual refuge in the heart of our city.
On Easter Day, April 20, 2025, at 2 p.m., we all came together for an incredible celebration of the sacraments, sharing in a beautiful intercultural experience! That day was absolutely incredible, a truly historic moment! It was a truly remarkable event: 31 adult catechumens from a variety of countries, the majority of whom are native Quebecers, were initiated! Among them, 14 received the sacrament of Baptism and 17 the sacrament of Confirmation. The event unfolded with a profound sense of solemnity and beauty, leaving a lasting impression on everyone's hearts. It’s so exciting to see more and more adults coming to the church to be baptized or confirmed! This is the incredible work of the Holy Spirit, "the protagonist of the ecclesial mission" (Redemptoris Missio n. 21). The event, which everyone had been eagerly awaiting, took place in a bustling chapel that was filled to capacity with the faithful, families of catechumens, friends, and acquaintances. The celebration was led by Father Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala, Episcopal Vicar of the Francophone Deaneries of the Western Region of the Archdiocese of Montreal. With heart and soul, he reminded the catechumens and the congregation of our mission as baptized people. His words, filled with striking eloquence and passion, resonated deeply with each of us:
"On this Easter day, may the Holy Spirit help you, dear catechumens and each of us present at this celebration, to be witnesses of Christ's love and pilgrims of Hope among our sisters and brothers and in our world." I'm so excited to share this with you! I'm sure you'll be thrilled, too: "It is the Spirit who urges us to always go beyond, not only from the geographical point of view, but also beyond ethnic and religious barriers, to accomplish a truly universal mission! (Redemptoris Missio n. 25)”
This celebration is truly a remarkable phenomenon! We are thrilled to affirm, beyond a doubt, that this is indeed the divine presence! And what a presence! It moves at its own pace, guided by the Holy Spirit. This ceremony is a truly extraordinary illustration, a resounding testament to the divine stewardship of the ecclesiastical mission. It was such a magnificent sight! The Holy Spirit, in all his power and glory, is present among us, infusing the assembly with his divine presence!
"The Spirit offers man 'light and strength to enable him to respond to his most high vocation'; through the Spirit, 'man comes, in faith, to contemplate and savor the mystery of the divine will'; and 'we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all, in a way known to God, the possibility of being associated with the Paschal Mystery'" (Redemptoris Missio, 28).
By Jean-Marie Bilwala, Priest Episcopal Vicar for the Western Region of the Archdiocese of Montreal
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